Ford Shifts Focus to Electric SUVs in Europe as ICE Transition Continues

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) shares climbed nearly 3% Thursday after unveiling plans for a fully electric Focus SUV targeting European markets by 2027. The legacy automaker's strategic pivot comes alongside a stark warning about industry upheaval, with Executive Chairman Bill Ford acknowledging regulatory pressure outpacing consumer readiness for electrification.

The C2 platform-based vehicle marks Ford's first foray into electric C-segment offerings, building on its 2018 combustion-engine Focus architecture. This MOVE signals a calculated balancing act—expanding EV capabilities while maintaining ICE production to meet current market demand. "The ICE business won't disappear," Ford noted, criticizing premature regulatory timelines that risk alienating customers during the transition.